"What our society has fallen to is debauchery! Christ our Lord did not die for his people to fall into this crude practice!" The Bishop's face was wet with the sweat passion.
"Do you not thank the Lord for all the gifts he has bestowed upon you as Christians?" The Bishop looked down at the crowd, his words were taken to be the grave truth by all but one parishioner.
Marie looked up at her lover with a cruel smile. When the Bishop finally caught her eye , his face changed drastically as though he had been reminded of his own shortcomings.
" Let us all seek repentance for there is not one soul out there who has not sinned. This we must remember as we travel on." The Bishops message softened.
He quickly turned away from the scene of his impurity and began again on another topic. Marie held her head high , proud of her new missions' sincerity and guilt. His traits were perfect, his position even more ideal. In a months time the Bishop was expected to be named the Archbishop of Florence, a position the Bishop had been pensively awaiting for years.
Marie quickly exited the cathedral before the sermon ended. She was careful in her movement, in the last year she had learned to become a ghost, a figment of the imagination.
Outside she skulked behind the woodcutter shop sure the owner was at mass right now.
Two dark figures slunk against the side of the building, their holy attire obviously unnatural for the pair. One stood tall and ghoulish, the other bald and round. A third character emerged out of the shadows, though this one was grubby looking and commonly dressed. They stood up straight when Marie approached them with a cruel civility.
"Tonight" She said with lips of frost.
"Tonight?You do not think it is too soon, that perhaps we are rushing?" The ghoulish figure asked.
"If you would like to wait you may, but I am leaving tonight."
"As you wish Miss, when the clock chimes in the eleventh hour?"
"Yes, as it was always to be?" She walked away braggadocio.
Her entrance to the villa was through the west gate. The Bishop had made sure her door was private. No one would see her enter her own home. The Bishop entered the house not an hour after Marie.
"My love," She began with intent in her demonic eyes,"there is a matter I need to speak to you about."
"Tell me what is plaguing you ?" He questioned her.
"It is the matter of our son."
The Bishop's shoulders tightened and his face clenched at the vexing words, "What of the boy?"
" I have received word from his keeper , she needs more money."
"More? I have given that child all a little one could possibly wish for."
"Hmmm, yes, but I thought you wanted the best for your son, for the line of Perrico, I told his keeper to give him nothing but the best in everything, I could tell her otherwise, to treat him like a peasant, to treat him with little regard."
" No, no, I suppose we must do something for the boy. You are correct. If I send her the ring with my family's crest , perhaps that will suffice?"
"Do let me see it. Where do you keep it my Lord?"
The aging Bishop stood up and went to his chest. He took out an ancient looking ring.
"Let me see." She commanded, "Yes, this will do nicely, our son will have nothing but the best care."
The Bishop placed the gem back into the chest as he began to speak , "One day I would like to see the boy."
"Oh I don;t think that would be a very good idea. You would not even allow me to stay in Florence when my stomach was swollen with him. How could you think of going to see him, especially when the pope is considering you for Archbishop?"
" Perhaps you are correct my love." He smiles the smile of a pained father never able to see his heir.
" I am going into town my love but I will see you tonight."
She left the same way she entered.
Night fell soon over Florence. The Bishop lay in bed with his love.
Marie carefully caressed his hair as she began to speak, "I must admit my love, I heard some rather disturbing things today while I was in town."
"What sort of things?"
" The Magistrate is suspicious of you having a mistress there is talk they may come to the villa to see for themselves."
"But when?"
"Some say tonight... " She allowed the words to seep under his skin.
" We must do something. You must leave immediately!"
"Where shall I go?"
He looked about the room as though the curtains held the answer, "I have a brilliant idea, you should go and stay with our son then you can give the gem to the keeper."
"If I am to go as well we will need more than the gem!"
He took out his chest and began pulling out priceless jewels to keep his lover and son satisfied. Marie began to pack her own bags forcing her previous gifts from the Bishop inside the sack.
The grand clock of the town struck eleven. The chime echoed through the windows. A pound was heard on the front door.
"They're here!" Cried the Bishop, "The Magistrate is here!"
Two religious looking men burst into the main foyer. One was tall and ghoulish looking and the other was small, bald and plump. Marie and the Bishop saw the men from the stairs.
"Quick come the back door!" Cried the Bishop.
Marie followed him out of the magistrate's sight and into the back courtyard. The bishop called for a carriage. Marie stepped into the carriage.
"I will come and see you in Pergua." He called after her.
"Yes there I will see you . I will give our son you love." The carriage drove away.
Marie tapped the driver, "I told you it would work!"
She smiled into the darkness. She was driving towards the child she never bore and the woman who never kept him. The Bishop would never see her again, the mother of his imaginary child. She neatly tucked the jewels inside her bodice and let a cruel laugh escape into the night air.
